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Monday, June 09, 2014

Charli Reviews: The Elites

‘There is a rumour that the Elites don’t bleed.’

Hundreds
of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising
sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has
survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures – and racial tension.

Fifteen-year-old
Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due
to her superior DNA. She’d never dream of leaving – but then she fails
to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel’s president, setting off a
chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have
imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy
with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her
family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her
complicated feelings for Butterfly.

I read this book in April. And I have only (barely) been able to put my thoughts together today, June 7th. This book is definitely going to be in my Top 10 of 2014, and even though it's only halfway through the year I am sure of it. This book has hit me, hard, for sure.

Just the prologue alone was so, so powerful. Ngan's writing is phenomenal, hard-hitting and just amazing. The idea of the book is developed flawlessly and the racial element is introduced early on and not hidden. I was completely enthralled; The Elites is breath-taking.

"...she added coldly, 'You might be an Elite, Silver, but

remember that in the end you're nothing more than a dirty Red.' "

One thing that sticks in my mind, two months on, is the description of the city. Instead of a flat description, Ngan has the mayor speak about the city, developing it in my mind. I found it a lot more interesting in this way. The description and action throughout the book all flows together, and it's written extremely vividly.

"The smell of wet metal hit her like a wall,

and the screaming began."

Each page has a twist, something to make you read on. It has so many elements, and it should be chaotic, but it's just not. It's so well-written that nothing jumps, nothing goes amiss. The society itself, Neo-Babel, is extremely evolved, both in the writing and in the techonology.

I wanted Silver and Butterfly to be together from the start! Their friendship is so, so beautiful and the romance is one of those that makes your heart flutter.

The little touches from the "past" world made it awesome as well, and added a touch of humour. I love it when a dystopia references to the past, and Ngan did just this! Some of the secondary characters have names like Calpol and Lemsip, and this just made it even better.

The Elites is definitely a five-star for me; because from the characters to the world, the plotline and description, this book is just perfect for anyone who loves a dystopian. An absolutely flawless debut.

This is on my TBR shelf at the moment. Will definitely be reading it after exams are over. And I can't wait to see who's friendship is beautiful and blossoms into something more ;) (thanks for blanking the spoiler!!) x